Emily Dame-Gibes

Emily Dame-Gibes, LMSW, CAADC (she/her, they/them) Bilingual Therapy | Trauma & Addiction | Gender-Affirming & Culturally Responsive Care You may be feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or uncertain about how to move forward. Whether you're navigating trauma, substance use, identity exploration, or complex relationship dynamics, therapy can offer a grounded space for healing, reflection, and growth. I work with teens (12+), adults, and couples of all genders and backgrounds to explore emotional wounds, increase regulation, and reconnect with parts of self that have been silenced or overwhelmed by past experiences. I bring over 15 years of experience in mental health and substance use work, including harm-reduction-focused nonprofit settings and private practice. I am a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and Certified Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CAADC), offering therapy in both English and Spanish. My work is deeply informed by my own lived experience as a neurodiverse, queer, femme, cis practitioner with Latinx heritage, rooted in community and anti-oppressive care. I am a parent, partner, and longtime member of the LGBTQIA2S+ community with a strong commitment to inclusion, liberation-based practice, and health equity. My specialties include trauma (including complex and intergenerational trauma), mood-related issues, substance use and recovery, gender-affirming care, sexuality and identity concerns, CNM/polyam partnerships, kink-aware and power-exchange dynamics, and the needs of individuals impacted by systemic oppression, immigration stressors, and marginalized identities. I am experienced in supporting clients with SPMI diagnoses in ways that center dignity, autonomy, and relational connection. Therapeutically, I integrate a range of trauma-informed and holistic approaches including Internal Family Systems (IFS), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), DBT-informed emotional regulation work, somatic integration, and culturally specific healing frameworks. My style is collaborative, nonjudgmental, and deeply relational. I meet clients where they are, honoring all parts of their identity and history, and supporting them in finding clarity, choice, and healing at their own pace. If you're looking for a therapist who affirms your full self—including your identities, experiences, relationships, and ways of being—I would be honored to work with you. Whether you're beginning therapy for the first time or returning after a break, I welcome you into a space where you can explore, grieve, grow, and heal on your own terms.